Gearing for washing-machines.



C. w. SWANSON.'

GEAHINGOR WASHING MACHINES. APPLlcAnoN man rfi/W25?l 19m 4 SHEETS-SHEET I.

` C. w. swANsoN. GEAmNG Fon WASHING MACHINES.

APPIJCATION FILED MAY 25. ISIS. 1,247,175.

l 4Mmm Nov. 2o, 1917.

"4 SHEETS-swf? 3.v

C. w. swANsoN.

GEAmNG'roB WASHING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 25, I9|6.

1,247,175. rammed Nov. 20, 1917 4 SHEETS-SHEET `4.

45- 5...! .32; 5 ZF) Eg To all whom 'a Be'fit known'that'I, CARL W. SwANsoN, a. y

`and two longitudinal bars 22 below the tub `connect the end CARL W. sWANsoN, or cHrcAco, ILLINOIS.

vcEanUuef ron. WAsnINe-MAcHINEsi citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of .Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and #useful Improvements in 4Gearing for Washing-Machines, of which the following isla specication.

My invention. relates to improvementsin gearing `for Washing machines," and more particularly to means for operating an' oscillating-tub washing-machine.

I Among the objects of my invention are to provide a constructiom. advantageously adapted for power actuation of the washing machine tub; wherein the mechanism is consstructed to oscllate the tub without dam-.`

l vaging shocks or jars, andwith minimum power loss, and ,is `capable of ready operation to connect or disconnect the tub with respect to the constantly running parts. 'A

Further objects of my invention are to provide al construction which is simple, inexpensive ,.durab'le, eiiic'ient, not liable to get der, easily manufactured, and readilyf'cared .for and maintained by. inexperiencedpersons. .jflf

In the* drawings Figure 1 is a frontelevation oa washing machine embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 isi an end-,elevation thereof, from the left hamfendof Fi'g. 1;

connected cran s of Fig. 3; 4o`v Figa is 'an end elevation, fram thsright end of Fig. 1; -3

lperspectivedletail of a tub- *Fig -5 is a section on line 5-5- of Fig. 3; Fig. 6 is a horizontal section on line 66 F'g. 7 isla vertical-section online 7 7 of F1 6'. gig. 8 and Fig.' 9 are perspective details of artsshown in Fig. 7 y l e osci'llatablevwashing-machine tub 10 is pivotally supported in a frame structure The Vtub is preferably a sheet-metal, top-opening receptacle having at its ends bracing spiders 12, from which project the pintles' 13 and 14 that iind suitable bearing in the frame and` on which the tub oscillates.

l Each side member 16 and 16 of the frame referably has two leg pieces 17 connected` y a cross bar, 18 or 18',l a vertically extending, nearly central bearing upright 19 in which the bearing for the tub pintle is ar ranged, and a top extension 20 back of the- Specification of Letters-Patent.

Application filed May 25, 1916. f Serial No. 99,759.3

in. f'gated driving `pinion 32 4that constantly A. suitable source of: powerfsuch as the electrle motor`25, that is mounted on a ped- .estal 26' secured to the lower front portion of theframe, drives, through a belt 27,

a power wheel 28 that is mounted on a short A power shaft 29, disposed in a long bearing 30 that is carried' byor formed integrally withthe frame bar 18 and that. preferably has a largeoil-recept'acleO formed there- This powershaft 22g-carries an elonmeshes with an axially-shiftable 'gear slrdably mountednn a shaft 34 that, for

. identification I term the main shaft and that is arranged near the rear of the machine to 4ind bearing inthe framebars 18 and 18.

Patented Nov. 2o, 1917. i

The mainshaft bearings may have oil ducts 34.n The'axially shiftable gear 33 is lmoved by a shifterV yoke 35' engaging in a peripheral slotJ 36. in the gear hub, said yoke tends through a suitable bearing 38 in the frame member 18 and is axially reciprocable by a shifter lever 40'4 that Ais pivoted, as at 41, on projections 42 on the frame member 18', and `that extends up the side of the frame for convenient access.

In either of the positions' to which the gear 33 may be shifted .by the lever 40 it engages the elongated pinion 32, but in its inward position, to which it may be -thrown byf outward movement of the lever 40, said gear makes rotative connection with the main shaft 34, while in its other position it is disconnected from the'shaft 34. To this end the hub-part 44 of. the gear 33 is formed eing carried by a sliding shaft 37 that 4eX- that may engage with ordisengage" from Vcomplementa-l teeth 46 of'la clutch-member 47 fast on shaft 34. 1

When drivin connection between the gear 33 and sha 34 is established, and the shaft 34 is thereby rotated, oscillating mo-r tion is imparted to the tub 10. At its ex-` tremity beyondthe frame member 18, the shaft 34 carries a crank 50 secured thereon',

. and the extremity of this shaft-crank is connected by link 51 with'a tub-crankfelement.

52 that is loose on the pintle 14 ofthe tu'bQ As best shown in Figs. 4 and 5 `the tub-crank 52 is preferably bifurcaledand its tw'olimbsff l 52a and 52b straddle the upright frameart 19 to engage the pintle on both sides o its bearing. The tub-crank has a transverseV head'52c' that extends through an opening .in lthe frame to receive 'the pivoted end o link 51, and it is also provided with a horlzontally disposed extension-lug 54 thatexe.

tends into proximity to the end of the tub. This lug has a slot 55 throughwhich extends a vertical pin A56 that isf fixed at opposite ends in brackets 57 carried by the brac- .ing spider 12, and springs 58-58 coiled around said rod 56form a'resilient or shockabsorbing'connection between the crank and 15 the tub.`

It will 'be appreciated that the operation,

of the power devices/1s subject to peculiarities due to the nature-of the machine Ain 3d to rac'kthe power mechanism badly. The` yielding connection aiorded between'the tub I operating crank 52 and the tub proper gives avery-advantageous shock-absorber acti-on, permitting themovements of the tub, inuenced in part by "the load-movements, to accommodate themselves to the positively` timed icrank movements with minimum shock or dra .y Thus the tub may lag somewhat behin the reversing action of the crank 5 24at the .end of its oscillatory movement, and then,.(since one of the springs 58 is compressed owing to the lag action of the tub) the tub movement may be accelerated throught the spring expansion after the tub has started its -reverse action, andthe 'tub may even lead the crank, by compressing the other spring. Thus the machine maybe 4run at high speed and .gets a snappy action v of the tub that isvery'eective in easing 5 0 each-tub-r'eversal andv then snappily starting the water and clothes back toward the opposite side'of thetub, in addition to minimiz-A ing the shocks, that would fall .heavily upon connection made between the crank 52 and thetub., L A g* Since, in the construction shown, the cranks and 52 are both approximately horizontal when the tub is in mid-position o of. its oscillatory movement, the maximum shiftablefweight of the load within Vthe tub isthrown on --the descending side of the tub i. just'after cranksO and 52 pass' mid-posi# tion, and of course such' loadshift tends c5 .strongly to accelerate'the movement of the the .power appliances were direct, positive the reversal point. In the drawings 60 indi- 75 l' cates a two point cam mounted onvv shaft 34' approximately parallel'to crank 50 and cooperating with a metalstr'ap 61. The'strap is pivoted tothe frame lmember 18, at 62,

and is formed in 'a suitable curve, intersects0 ing the path of the ,cam 60. At its end a slotted Vportion 62 thereof is guidedon a t pin63 mounted in suitable brackets on the frame member 18 and said pin-'issurrounded by springs 64-64 acting'foppositely against 85 the ear 62. As" either pointof 4the cam 60 ldescends its movement from Vmid-position toward the nearest vertical point is iricras ingly resisted by the braking action of the 'band 61, and then, after the acting point of 90 the camfpasses the part of the pivoted band 61 that is closest to the shaft' 34, the lower spring 64 reacting on saidband 61 tends to force the point past the vertical as the band is being. spring-restored to normal position. 4

Coperatively, therefore, as well las individually, theshock-absorbing structures associated with both cranks 50 and 52', act to stabilize the load on the motor25, and enable power-loss to be avoided. 1 00 In addition to its stated-relation to -th'e clutch member^47, by whichVit mayeither drive or release the shaft 34, the slidablev gear 33 has a constant driving relation to a xed gear 70. -Such driving but slidable relation -is maintained through `the constant engagement of the slotted hub'extension 71 t loi thel gear 38 with lugs 72 on the gear 70 that is rotatable upon but'axiallyfixed with respect t'o the shaft 34. IThis n on-slidable 110' v gear 7'0 is beveled and c operates with a horizontally disposed beveled'gear 73 carriedby a vertical shaft 74 which extends up through suitable brackets, 7 5 and 7 6 v.as-

js'ociated with? the cross b ar 1'8" and the top 115 bar 21 of the frame, to` apply driving power L to a' wringer. lIhrough'mechanism, which I i do not here specifically claim, (as itis to'be made the subject' matter of 'another patent application)- the wringer is made bodily '120' rotatable about a vertical axis and .yet re-' vversible in '-operation. Specifically the bearing 76 has a fixed top lplate 78 peripherally notched, as at 7 9. The wringer 80 is mount- 'ed in a wringer-frame 81 that comprises a horizontal bar 8 2 having a bearing sleeve 83 extending through the bracket `76 and `surrounding the shaft 74, `and having beyond said bearing sleeve a bracket arrangement 84- that extends. upwardly and in-130' i 40 apllendedclaims.Y

. avingdescribed -my invention, what I' v. 90 that constantly meshes with two beveled ge'arsQlL and 92 loose on shaft 87, these gears, of course, rotating oppositely. Either `such gear -91 or 92 may be clutched to sha-ft 87 by a shiftable clutch member 94, slidable. on but rot'atively iixed to the shaft 87 and arranged to cooperate. with the' coactin clutch teeth Von eithergear 91 or'92 accor ingly as the shiftable clutch member 94 is 'shlfted by av lever 95 that is pivoted on the head 85..l The wringer frame as 4a whole may be rotated about the shaft 74 at its center, the gears 91 and 92 traveling planetfashion aboutthe gear 90, and the frame *washing machine comprising, in combinamaybe latchedf in any of its desired positions by a latch lever 97 pivoted to the lower bar. o-frame 81 and ada ted to engage in any one of the notches 9 of the bearing 4plate 78. Of course when the clutch mem-- ber'94 is in mid-positiomasshown in Fig. 1, the shaft74 rotates idly, but the wringer may be thrown into instant operation, to be.

run forwardly or"reversely, by mere manipulation of the lever 95, no operation of the main clutch member'40-being necessary to' control the wringer operation, vas the wringer may be worked whether the tub is in oscillation or not. i j

While I have herein described in some1 detail`a particular embodiment of my inven- Vti it will be'understoodby those skilled in the art that many changes may be made therein without4 departure 'from' the spirit y' of the invention andwithin the scope of the claim is: 1. In a driving gear for an oscillatln tion of a rotatable shaft, a shaft-crank thereon, avcontainer-crank for vconnection with the container, a link connection, for oscillating the container crank as vtheshaft crank rotates, positioning said cranks approximately horizontal 'in mid-throw, and means,

coacting with said parts, to brake theactionf' thereofas the :shaft-crank is approaching a vertical position and tof assist said' shaft crank in. passing verticalposition. 1

2. In a driving gear for an oscillating washing machine, the combination of a rotatable shaft, a shaft-.crank thereon, a tubcrank for. connection with the washing ma- 6 0 chine tub,'a link connection, for oscillating the tub crank Aas'th'e shaft craIkTotates, vpo

, sitioning said cranks approximately `horizontal inmid-throw, and means, coacting with said parts, to brake the action there- V of as the shaft-crank is approaching either crank 50, connecting link-51, double pointed fixed in said lugs and-extending through an lopenin vin the crank end, a'nd springs inter- .oscillationof a bracin v spider secured to tween said lugs and having an opening 1n its with said' parts, to Abrake the action thereof as the shaft-crank is approachingeither of itsvertical positions and to assist said shaft crank. ,inf-passing vertical position, said mean's comprising a double pointed cam on theshaft andacoperating'strap pivoted at .one end and spring sustained at its o ther end'. 4? Power mechanism for an oscillating tionwith'the oscillatable tub, the frame, and the power shaft-34pa tub crank 52, a shaft cam 60 on the shaft 34 and coperatin'g lstrap 61, spring sustained' at one end `and acting to brake the movement of cam 60 as vcrank 50 passes through a quadrant approaching the point fat which the tub move- .ment is reversed, and to propel cam 60 as said crank 50 is passing said point of tub reversal. v l v 5. The combination with a'washing machine frame and an oscillatable tub mounted therein, of means" to power operate said'tub incindi-ngnacrgnkmounted co-axially with the tub, means t`o" drive said crank, and connection between said crank and the tub comprising-projecting lugscarried by the tub v. Vend above and below the crank end, a rod posed tween both of said lugs and -the v crank end and surrounding said rod. hollow contalner adapted to receive a l1qu1 45 inassv to) be violently agitated, the combina- 6. The combination with a washin machine fr'ame anda tub mounted therein for the end of the tub carrying the tub-bearing pintles and bearing upper and lowerI lugs, a

crank on one of said pintles projecting beend,-a rod mounted insaid lugs extending through said opening, springs interposed between said lugs and the end of the crank, 'and nieans to oscillate the crank.

" 7.` In a washing machine power-installa- 12o tion, the combination with -a tub -havinga pintle and a frame having an upright bearing member in which the tub pintle .is mounted foroscillation, of lugs mounted upon the tub ends, a bifurc'ated crank straddling the frame upright and' mounted loosely on the tub pintle,l said crank having an extension formed with an opening lyingxin alinement with and between said lugs,'a rodconnecting said lugs extending 13o throughlth'e lever` opening, springs inter-1' posedbetween said lugs and thencrank, and means to oscllate Saidleven` 8. A power installation for a' Combined Q seillatin'gfwashing machine and. rotary Wrlnger, eoniprislngfA 1n lco'mblnation; with the frame, the Wringer'.mountedV in the pper portion thereof; and the'v oscillatory' tub n'ectionsfbetween `said main shaftfand the tr11b51anelonga`ted pinion on the'power shaft,4

an axially shiftable gear on the main Shaft; in constantl IneslhA relation twith Saidl pinion,

luteh i connection for engaging Said.V shift- 'able gear' in driving relation withl the `main Shaft in'one of its positions and. freeing `it gears Vin tcoilstalitly'` Ineshed relation -`on vthe vertial shaft and main Shaft, the main i; shaft, gear being rotatable o'nfits" shaftggand a sllidaloleI eonneetion constantly'linaintaining driving 'relation `loeinig/een the two gears on the main shaft.

a In' an ,oscillating-ubwashing 'mchig combination of atb, a' frame therefor;` a driving .ineangfa man1 shhaft, connect1ons tween the' main Shaftand'theltub `permitting laggin of tubreierSalbehind the reversal of cran direction,1andmeans acting on `the main shaft .automatically'to brake its kapproaoh to the pointofreversal of tuby mov-@ point of Gilloreversal.i Y,

In testimony whereoflhereunto set my mentand to `assist it'passage beyond said v 1 n vf4o hand in the-presea@ time subscribing. wit-v,

i' mw; SWANSONJ; 

